A Home Owner Association (HOA) is formed when the builder of a community turns the operation of the community over to the home owners. Even in a community without amenities there are requirements upon the association to maintain common area landscaping along its’ streets as well as flood control and drainage areas. The HOA also enforces the regulations written into the CC & R’s of the community. They do this primarily to prevent decisions amongst homeowners that would decrease the value of the property or surrounding properties
Those who purchase a property in a HOA will often automatically join the HOA. Opting out of a HOA depends on what is written in the CC & R’s of the community. Though it is relatively easy to opt into a HOA if you buy a property one may find it difficult to leave if they find management of the HOA to be subpar.
Many HOA’s require its members to pay membership fees that will go towards aspects such as the formerly mentioned flood control and maintenance of the area. These fees might be collected by the leader of the HOA or by any hoa collection services hired by the HOA in order to keep fee collection impartial.
HOAs will often forbid certain kinds of house development (e.g. plant a tree that may cast shade on the garden of another HOA member’s property) without prior approval from the other members. People who break these rules may also face a fine. However, these rules often ensures that any development made within the HOA does not negatively impact any other member.
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